Seasons

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Every Fall I stare down the piles of leaves in my yard. They are the remnants from the season of growing, piled up where the green grass had previously been visible. The cluttered yard represents a few hours of hard labor that becomes a time of leaf removal so that the ground can freeze, rest, and reset in the Spring. From experience, I know that unless I put in the hard work in the Fall, I will not enjoy a prosperous yard in the when the ground thaws. What does a thriving process look like in the spiritual life of a man?

Notice both the subtraction and addition happening in Psalm 1. Removed from the life of a blessed man are these three things: counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of an unpleasant person. A different indulgence must replace that clutter. Spiritual lives must be inspected and addressed, much like a lawn over the various seasons. The man of God who produces results every season, is a man focused on God’s Word. Being kept up like this directly results in production and durability over time. The passing season reveals our prior planning or lack thereof. Start thinking now how you will both produce and last in the coming seasons.